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BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) — BocaNewsNow.com has been reminded for several years that PBSO Deputies are instructed to ignore fireworks noise complaints on July 4th. The reasoning isn’t illogical — deputies need to be free to respond to “real” complaints — but the policy creates as much of an image problem for the agency as a noise problem for the areas it patrols.
Each year, PBSO issues press releases warning citizens that fireworks are illegal. Problem is: PBSO is doing nothing about the idiot, low class adults standing in the middle of Boca Falls, Saturnia, The Oaks, The Bridges and ungated communities like Boca Winds, setting off explosive devices well after the public fireworks exhibitions have come to an end.
The noise and smoke hovering in 90 percent humidity makes West Boca seem like a war zone. The impact on kids and adults done celebrating and trying to sleep before work or camp is immeasurable.
Setting off fireworks in Palm Beach County is illegal. That’s not open for interpretation. PBSO, like other law enforcement agencies, goes to great lengths each year to remind folks of that law, and to demonstrate that fingers and toes can be blown off by explosives.
But it’s a lot of talk and little action.
PBSO’s lack of enforcement is no different than reminding drivers that speeding at 97 mph on 441 is wrong, but doing nothing about it until a deputy gets hit by an unlicensed motorcyclist.
We call on PBSO to focus proactively on quality of life issues in the area it covers, not just on reacting to bad things after they happen.
Community policing is effective. Reactionary policing is not.
